Dengue fever cases rise to 43 in Sudan’s East Nile area

September 14, 2024 (KHARTOUM BAHRI) – The number of dengue fever cases in Sudan’s East Nile district has risen to 43 in the past week, the local emergency room said on Saturday, though no deaths have been reported.

In April, the emergency room in Khartoum Bahri, the state’s third largest city, reported 384 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne viral infection.

Eleven new cases were recorded on September 10 and 11 in the Soba East area, a member of the East Nile emergency room told Sudan Tribune. Two of these patients, a 15-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man, developed hemorrhagic fever and were hospitalized.

The official urged residents to report any suspected dengue symptoms to the medical office immediately.

Dengue fever is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Symptoms can include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, fatigue, skin rash, low blood pressure and difficulty breathing.

Sudan’s healthcare system is under severe strain, particularly in conflict zones where an estimated 80% of facilities are not functioning and there are acute shortages of medicine and supplies.